The Complete listing of Chester Springs Studio's Adult Classes
Look under day or evening classes to find classes that fit your busy schedule

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You must be a member to take classes or workshops. You can sign up for membership at the time of registration. For information about membership click here.

Summer Session


PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE REGULARLY FOR NEW CLASSES, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS THAT MIGHT BE INSERTED IN OUR PROGRAM  AT A LATER DATE AND WILL NOT BE IN OUR PRINTED CLASS SCHEDULE.

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Painting Workshops
Painting Classes
Ceramic Workshops
Ceramic Classes

PAINTING & SCULPTURE CLASSES

TECHNIQUES FOR LANDSCAPE PAINTING • David Knoecklein
Mondays (8 weeks)
For the beginning and intermediate painter.  Working in either oil, acrylic or pastel, you will learn concepts of value, color and perspective as well as techniques inherent in making landscape imagery.  Sketching and painting out of doors is the primary activity, and one copy of a master work will be assigned.  Contemporary and classical palette.  Finish one painting each session. A suggested
materials list is provided.
June 23-August 11, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
$185 Tuition 

PAINTING FUNDAMENTALS • David Knoecklein - Mondays  (8 weeks)
For the beginning painter.  As you work in either oil, acrylic or pastel, you are drawing and composing in values and color.  Understand how to use these concepts technically and to achieve your particular goals or ideas.  What do mediums offer and what are their limitations?  This class will encourage you to work in your own direction.  Labor intensive but confidence building.  Models determined by the class.  A suggested materials list is provided.
June 23-August 11, 7-10 p.m.
$185 Tuition

STONE SCULPTURE - Carving • Kathy Miller - Tuesdays (8 weeks)
Carving techniques with the use of hand tools will be learned on cast plaster blocks,
progressing to soft stone, such as, soapstone or alabaster. Those with experience are also welcome to further their skills or continue a work in progress.  Working outdoors, the class will have inspiration from the natural surroundings for abstract and non-representational designs.  A materials list is provided.  Some materials are provided by the Studio.
June 24-August 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
$220 Tuition, $15 materials fee

PORTRAIT DRAWING & PAINTING • Martin Pieczonka - Tuesdays (8 weeks)
You will study the fundamental structure of the head by analyzing planes and proportions through the use of light and shadow.  With a limited palette, you will learn to see beyond details and understand the head as a simplified symmetrical solid form. There will be demonstrations on drawing and color.  A materials list is provided.  Model 8 times. 
ACT 48 credits
June 24-August 12, 6:45-9:45 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $60 Model Fee

LANDSCAPE DRAWING & PAINTING • Rhona Candeloro – Wednesdays
(8 weeks)
An opportunity to learn the basic elements of drawing:  composition and design, line, volume and form defined by light.  There will be an emphasis on learning to really see your subject and to transfer what you see to the paper.  The way form is shaped and depicted by light will be an important factor.  After meeting and working around the Chester Springs Studio the first session, we will work outdoors from the landscape in
various other sites in the area.  You will be notified with directions about where to meet before each class. 
A materials list is provided.
June 25-August 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
$185 Tuition,

EN PLEIN AIR  •  Martin Pieczonka – Thursdays (8 weeks)
We will explore the landscape in and around Chester Springs.  In this class you can learn techniques of observation that will broaden your vision and enable you to compare color, and construct a painting that is unified in its qualities of light and shadow.  Learn to arrange your composition to maximize the pictorial effect of your subject.  Demonstrations will be conducted on simplifying and blocking in the
elements with an open palette and loose brushwork.  There will be a model 5 times to explore the relationship between the figure and the landscape.  Other topics such as scale, perspective, and materials will be covered.  A materials list is provided.
June 26-August 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
$220 Tuition, $50 Model Fee

IN THE STUDIO:  FIGURE & LIFE DRAWING • Martin Pieczonka, Monitor - Thursdays (8 weeks)
This class presents the opportunity to draw, paint, and sculpt from the figure without instruction. Poses, whether croquis or extended, will be determined by the group with the monitor.  Students may drop in for classes provided the class can be formed around a core group of committed students. 
June 26-August 14, 6:45-9:45 p.m. 
$90 Tuition

CERAMIC CLASSES

SUMMER SPECIAL - Mondays (8 weeks) 
For Ceramic Students Enrolled This Past Year
As many of our artists are busy during the summer months, we are offering a special opportunity for students who were enrolled in Chester Springs Studio ceramics classes during the Fall 2007, Winter 2008, and Spring 2008 semesters to work on their own in the ceramics studio.  This will also give you the privilege of enjoying our regular open studio hours. 
June 23-August 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$75 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

SCULPTURE AROUND THE WHEEL • Jeanie Silver – Mondays (8 weeks)
Have you ever wanted to make sculptures but thought all your clay work had to be useful to be beautiful?  In this class we will pursue meaningful forms through the wheel, discovering new ways to combine wheel-made and hand-built parts to create forms that are far from round.  Basics of sculptural form will be demonstrated and unusual food safe glazes explored.  Functional work can also be made in this class; as we learn more about the dance of mass and volume we may realize that even a sugar bowl can be sculptural.
June 23-August 11, 7-10 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

THROWING ON THE WHEEL • Brett Thomas – Tuesdays
Students, from beginning to advanced, will develop their throwing skills.  There will be an introduction to glazing techniques, slip decoration and carving.  You will cover lids and handles mid-semester.
June 24-August 12, 1-4 p.m. OR 6:30-9:30 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee each clsass

YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE • Bernadette Curran & Susan Bankert
Wednesdays (8 weeks)
Join studio artists, Bernadette and Susan in this unique team taught class as they share their techniques and ideas about place settings for the table.  Through group and individual investigations, students will experiment with thrown forms using techniques such as folding, darting, squaring, and ovaling. We will explore bottomless cylinders and alter shapes thrown fresh off the wheel.  Together we hope to challenge you to push the clay to create interesting place settings, and presentation at the table. Using your acquired skills, we can develop both functional and sculptural solutions.  Lively dialogue, slides, and examples of tableware will accompany this dynamic duo. 
June 25-August 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

GARDEN POTTERY • Joan Gale - Thursdays  (8 weeks)
Create decorative and functional garden accents.  You will learn techniques for making slab built bird baths, sundials, toad houses, and wall plaques.  Students will have use of the wheel for designing hanging pots, water garden bowls, vases and more.  We will discuss methods of sculptured surface embellishments inspired by nature.  All levels welcome.  Limit 12.
June 26-August 14, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

POSSIBILITIES IN CLAY • Dina Schmidt - Thursdays (6 weeks)
Sculptural, decorative, and functional possibilities in clay will be explored through brief weekly demonstrations and ongoing class discussion.  We will experiment with many hand-building techniques and then expand to the potter's wheel; basic throwing and altering will be covered.  We will also investigate the traditional and non-traditional possibilities available to finish your pieces.  All levels welcome.  Limit 12. 
ACT 48 credits ($25 fee)
July 10-August 14, 7-10 p.m.
$150 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

POTTERY BASICS • Nell Hazinski - Fridays (8 weeks)
Making useful, handsome pots that embody the spirit of the maker is the goal of this class. Learn and explore process and techniques of hand-building and wheel-throwing to allow you to bring form to your ideas.  This is a comprehensive class for all skill levels.
June 27-August 22 (no class July 4),  9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
$185 Tuition, $50 Materials & Firing Fee

INFORMATION & OPEN STUDIO
Class enrollments are limited to 12 to afford everyone an electric wheel.  Studio & firing fees cover the use of the studio, glazes, firings and your first bag of clay.  Additional clay may be purchased at CSS as follows:  $16 for a 25# bag of stoneware, terra cotta and porcelain. Tool kits are available at $15.

Open Studio is available to members who are currently enrolled students:   Mondays
10 AM-4 PM, Tuesdays 9 AM-12 PM, Thursdays & Fridays 1-4 PM

Rental of the wood kiln is $400. This fee includes wood, Studio glazes, and wadding. If your wood-firing experience is limited, CSS maintains a listing of experienced wood-firers who are potentially available, for a fee to be negotiated with them, to assist with any firings.  To schedule a firing, send your payment in full, plus an additional refundable $50 to cover potential clean-up, damage, or excessive wood usage.

Registration